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“He gets away with everything”: Maple Leafs fans furious as Sam Bennett avoids suspension for hit that hospitalized goalie Anthony Stolarz

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The Times Of Indiapublisher-detail-arrow
07th May, 2025 01:14 IST
The Toronto Maple Leafs kicked off their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series with a dramatic win over the Florida Panthers, but it wasn’t all celebration on the bench. The spotlight quickly shifted from the scoreboard to the condition of goalie Anthony Stolarz, who was hospitalized after taking a brutal elbow to the head during Monday’s Game 1. Even more shocking? The player behind the hit, Panthers forward Sam Bennett , is walking away without a suspension and Leafs fans are fuming.


Anthony Stolarz took multiple hits to the head during Game 1 before vomiting and being stretchered out

It all started with a rough first period for Stolarz, who took a puck directly to the head off a shot from, wait for it — Sam Bennett himself. That impact knocked his mask clean off. But the more worrying moment came in the second period, when Bennett’s elbow made contact with the back of Stolarz’s head during a power play. He stayed in the game for a few more moments before visibly throwing up on the bench, after which medical staff rushed in and stretchered him out of Scotiabank Arena. Leafs Nation held their breath as their breakout playoff star was transported to a Toronto hospital.


After overnight hospital stay, Stolarz was back with the team by morning but Game 2 remains uncertain


Fortunately, Tuesday brought some positive updates. Stolarz was released from the hospital early in the morning and even joined his teammates for breakfast. Defenseman Brandon Carlo told reporters , “I liked the way that he looked this morning... to see him smile was a good thing.” Still, head coach Craig Berube wasn’t ready to say if the goalie would return for Game 2. “We’ll see. Don’t know that yet,” he said when asked directly. Considering Toronto faces Florida again on Wednesday, rest and recovery time is extremely limited.


Panthers’ Sam Bennett will not be suspended despite elbowing Stolarz and that’s sparking major backlash
Now here’s where things are getting even messier: despite video replays showing what looked like a clear elbow to the head, The Athletic reported that Bennett will not face any suspension or fine. The decision is causing a stir not just among fans but also inside the Maple Leafs locker room.




But according to Bennett, the whole thing was an accident. “I didn’t even know we made contact until after,” he told reporters, while also saying he personally reached out to Stolarz to check in.



With Game 2 just hours away and two more games packed into the next five days, the Leafs may have to rely on backup Joseph Woll, who took over mid-game and held the line to seal the 5–4 win. Stolarz, once seen as a career backup, had earned the starting role in Toronto’s playoff push thanks to a brilliant .926 save percentage and 2.14 GAA. Losing him, even temporarily, could be a major momentum shift in this fast-moving series against the reigning Eastern Conference champs.


Also read - Mitch Marner says newborn son “was smart enough” to avoid game day delivery and he’s already back on the ice


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